I’m excited to be participating in the blog tour for Caroline Leavitt’s book With or Without You. When I got my ARC for review I intended to just read a chapter but I accidentally read the entire thing in one sitting. It was just that hard to put down. Also, the cover is really pretty, and you know how I feel about that sort of thing.
About the Book
After almost twenty years together, Stella and Simon are starting to run into problems. An up-and-coming rock musician when they first met, Simon has been clinging to dreams of fame even as the possibility of it has grown dimmer, and now that his band might finally be on the brink again, he wants to go on the road, leaving Stella behind. But when she falls into a coma on the eve of his departure, he has to make a choice between stardom and his wife—and when she wakes a different person, with an incredible artistic talent of her own, the two of them must examine what it is that they really want.
My Thoughts
A captivating story with real-feeling characters that I couldn’t put down; I read the whole thing in one day.
Stella is easy to like, Simon not so much. It alternates perspectives between Stella, Simon, and Libby, and boy do things get complicated between them. But what I liked about this book was how kindly it treats all the characters. They do cruel things, and the book doesn’t justify it. It just shows their situation with honesty and lets everybody have a chance to speak.
SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH! I do feel like Stella got off a little easier than Simon. Why is his cheating the end of the world but she never gets caught or feels much remorse for hers? END SPOILERS.
Stella’s artistic ability is so fun to read about and it was a nice touch. As well, the friendship between her and Libby is interesting to read about. I don’t want to spoil anything, so you’ll have to read the book to find out exactly what happens, but it’s a wild ride.
I think the thing I like most about this book is that it shows how people change, and how you can or can’t continue on in a relationship.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.